This mythical beast of an imperial stout has been locked up for two years in apple brandy barrels and is ready to mate with your taste buds. Get ready because the Siberian Black Magic Panther is about to get up in you and unleash its notes of apple brandy flavor on your taste buds unconsensually! Are you ready to have a stalker of the night in your mouth?

Review from notes taken 3+ months ago. Bomber into a matching westbrook snifter. The brew appears black in color with a rich brown head. Some spotty lace sticks to the glass.

The smell is tangy with booze. Some oak, chocolate and raison character. The taste has more of raw oak feel mixed with chocolate/raison. A brandy tang is there reminescent of the barrel aging and oxidation is quite prevalent.

This is a medium bodied brew with a slick and creamy rich feel contrasted by a moderate level of carbonation. The oxidation and barrel "tang" hindered this offering a little. I think 2 years barrel aging was too much to the point where the beer suffered. A fine brew but not a good as it could have been if they pulled it from the barrels sooner. A fine example of longer resting time in a barrel does not equal better.

T: Starts off with some fruit, maybe Granny Smith apples and raspberries, lending sweet and tart notes. Milk chocolate and vanilla take center stage in the middle, with the fruit and coconut in the background. The fruit and coconut increase towards the end, with a little heat from the booze.

M: Slightly less heavy than I expected, which is probably a good thing. Subtle carbonation at the start, and then a creamy but not too weighty feel.

Such a thick pour of oil like blackness but upon deeper inspection it's a deep brown color that gives up light around the edge. The head was a substantive foam that laced well.

The nose has a lot of the Apple Brandy but creamy chocolate and roasted coffee sit nestled underneath.

The flavors are intense and the Apple Liqueur weaves its way throughout but never overpowers. First I get a huge chocolate flavor that is coupled with a creamy coconut. Then there's a natural Apple sweetness followed by white wine. It finishes with a caramel, toffee malt but the Apple Brandy is never forgotten.

The feel is very full, almost thick on the palate with a substantial alcohol heat and brandy liquor feel.

This is not my first Apple Brandy barrel beer but this is the first to truly take the flavor of the brandy and run with it. The flavors are intense and diverse and make this truly special.